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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

DESTINATION:
Bai the Beautiful

A few decades ago, Bai (commonly written as Pai, although pronounced with a hard b), then a small village in Mae Hong Son, was known only to a few tourists who were looking for an exceptional location that offered beauty, remoteness and peace.

It was mostly those identified as hippies or artists who would take the long and winding road to reach there. As years went by, rumors spread about a paradise that was found in this elusive valley in northwest Thailand. More and more tourists flocked in to enjoy the unparalleled beauty that is Bai. It is now credited with a registered population of 2,284 people, excluding the visiting tourists and some who have recently moved in for good from bigger cities such as Bangkok and other parts of the world, thanks to the town's charm and the laid-back rhythm of life that one cannot experience elsewhere.

In the daytime, popular activities in Bai include white water rafting, bicycle and motorcycle riding (rentals are 40 -100 and from 100 baht respectively), trekking, and visiting the hot springs on the outskirts of town. Gourmets are likely to be delighted to find that this small town is packed with eateries serving everything from traditional Tai Yai or Shan food, to Thai food, Muslim dishes, and including coffee, bakeries and a lot of other Western favorites. You can spend at least a week just eating at every restaurant, not to mention trying out everything on their menus.

Many tourists in Bai become nocturnal after sundown, since many of the bars familiar to the western world can be found there, especially on the main road leading up to the bus station. Bebop Bar, in particular, has a well-established reputation for quality live music.

Bai has no shortage of accommodation. While there are plenty of guesthouses, with prices starting at 100 baht for the real cheapos, decent rooms and bungalows are available at around 400 baht up. It's a good idea to rent a motorbike immediately on arrival and then ride around town before deciding where to stay.

Another thing. The air's still good in Bai, and unlike everything else, it's free.

How to get there: Mini-bus to Bai departs from Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai every hour, with tickets at about 160 baht. However, if you're not prone to carsickness, the regular public bus is much less costly, but takes a longer time to get there. Plutocrats meanwhile will be pleased to hear that SGA airlines (www.sga.co.th) operates two daily flights Chiang Mai - Bai.

Text: Por & Kiaw
Photos: SP